Improvement in metallic brackets



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

ALBERT D. JUDD, OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC BRACKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 15,35 l, dated December 9, 1873; application filed May 20', 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT D. JUDD, of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented Improvement in Metallic Brackets, of which the following is a specification:

Metal brackets have heretofore been cast with the wall and shelf plates in one piece, forming flanges to the ornamental portion that joins such plates, and into these flangeplates the screw-holes are bored.

In brackets of this character the screwholes cannot be cast, neither can the sin'faces of the wall and shelf plates be ornamented, except at considerable expense, arising from diificulty in molding the pattern.

Some kinds of ornamental brackets have been made of pieces hooked together; but they are liable to fall apart in handling, and are not adapted to use under the ordinary circumstances where so1id-iron brackets are employed.

I construct the bracket in three parts, the wall-plate, the shelf-plate, and the arch or brace, and lock them together in such a manner that they mutually support themselves as firmly, or nearly so, as if they were cast in one, and, by so doing, the screw-holes are cast, and the surfaces of the wall and shelf plates are ornamented to any desired extent, and the expense of boring holes is dispensed with, and the appearance of the bracket greatly improved.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the arch or brace with the wall and shelf plates in section. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the wall-plate, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the shelfplate.

The arch or brace a is made of any desired ornamental form. It is cast with hooks I) and c projecting outwardly from its respective ends, and with a dovetail block, (1, above its upper edge and near the angle.

The wall-plate e is made with any desired outline or configuration and with more or less ornamentation upon the surface. The holes 6, for screws, are also cast in the same. Near the lower end of the plate 6 is an opening for the hook c. There is also a hole for a stud, 0,

that is upon the back edge of the brace a, and a rib, f, between the beveled surfaces at the upper end, which rib passes between the hooks h that project at right angles from the back end of the shelf-plate m.

This shelf-plate m is of the desired config uration, and its surface more or less ornamented, and there are screw-holes 4"; also, a hole for the hook I), and a hole, 8, for the dovetail block d.

The bracket is put together by applying the shelf-plate m to the edge of the arch or brace a, entering the hook b in its hole, and the block d in its hole 8, and sliding the plate along until the dovetail of d binds in the portion of the hole 8 that is made to fit it. The beveled ends of the wall-plate e are entered under the hooks h, but the plate rests upon the stud 0, and the plate is slightly bent or sprung to enter the hook 0 through its hole in e, and then an endwise movement of the plate 6 forces the parts home, driving the beveled ends along against the hooks h until the stud 0 passes into its hole as the plate 0 regains its normal straight condition, and the parts are locked together firmly, so that they cannot be separated without breaking some of the parts.

In use, the direct weight upon the bracket is taken by the stud o and hook 0 upon the plate 0; also by the inner end of the plate on resting upon 0. The hooks it support the bracket and prevent the brace a and plate m swinging away from c, and the block d and hook I) connect the plate at and brace a.

It will be evident that the plate m might be the wall-plate when in use, and stand vertically; but the position described is prefera ble.

In heavy brackets, a screw, pin, or rivet might take the place of the stud 0, and prevent the necessity of springing the plate 0; and a projecting-pin riveted up may be em= ployed to connect the shelf-plate in place of the dovetail block (I; or the shelf-plate m might be cast upon the bracket, and the back plate only be separate.

I claim as my invention- 1. The plates 6 and m, separate from the brace a, and united to each other and to such brace by the hooks 0 b, and dovetail block d or its equivalent, substantially as set forth.

2. The wall-plate a, cast separate from the bracket a and plate m, and provided with the opening for the hook c,vand interlocking with the plate on at the angle, substantially as set forth. 7

Signed by me this 12th day of May A. D. 187 3.

A. D. J UDD. WVitnesses GEO. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH. 

